Whispers in town grew sharper. Someone claimed to see glowing eyes by the creek. Others swore they heard a roar at night. Elise bit her lip, holding Shadow tighter. She told herself the stories were exaggerations. But guilt pressed heavier each time she locked the door behind them.
One evening, she dared to ask herself aloud: “Am I protecting Shadow… or protecting myself from losing him?” The silence that followed felt like an answer. She looked into the panther’s eyes and saw not a kitten, nor a pet, but something wild, ancient, and untamable staring back.